Rail-fastener.



M. E. SMITH.

` RAIL FAST'ENER.

APFLICATION FILED APR.12, i915.

l ,201 .,373 Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Hurra MILTON E. SMITH, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

RAIL-FASTENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1916.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,771.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, NIH/ron E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail- Fasteners, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to improvements in rail fastening devices and has to do more particularly with fastening devices of this character which are initially attached to a tie or sleeper of the composite type, such for ins-tance as concrete ties or sleepers.

One of the novel features of this invention is to equip a tie with a device performing the dual function of holding the rail, and the spike so that the strains and stresses imposed will be distributed by the embedded portion of the fastening means throughout a considerable area within the tie.

A further object of the invention is to provide the tie with a spike socket into which a spike may be relatively loosely and freely projected, the fasteningmeans. being so disposed with respect to said socket as to take `the primary stresses directly from the spike and thereby prevent the latter from wearing objectionably loose in the tie and unduly enlarging the socket.

A further object of the invention is vto equip the tie with a yoke projecting from opposite ends thereof to afford means for securing the sections of the sleeper to each other.

Other novel features and objects of the invention will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and will be more particularly pointed out and ascertained in and by the appended claims. Y

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a sectional view through a trackage showing the tracks in section and the sleepers in elevation, Fig. is a. plan `view of one of the sleepers or sleeper sections showing a rail attachedv thereto with the spike omitted, Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2 showing the spike in position7 Fig. et is a perspective View of my improved combined rail and spike holder detached from the tie, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a rail block. Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the dierent figures of the drawing.

As illustrated, the ties or sleepers are formed in sections, designated at l, and adapted for connection by a connecting member or bar 2 in order to hold the sleeper section against displacement either toward or from each other so as to maintain the rail 3 in proper gage relation. Each sleeper section 1 is shown provided with atie yoke a extending longitudinally therethrough and embedded therein. The opposite ends of the sleeper section are notched, as indicated at 5 and the terminal ends of the tie yoke are forked, as indicated at 6. The forked ends 6 project into said notches 5 and are apert'ured, as indicated at 7, for pivotal connection with connecting bar 2, by means of pivots S. Centrally of the forked ends, the tie yoke is cut away to form a loop 9 which extends laterally of the longitudinal axis of the tie section so as not only to form an effective reinforcement but also to dispose the tie yoke laterally of the combined rail and spike fastening means which I will now describe.

Each tie section is recessed, as indicated at 10 to receive a cushioning block 11 which may be formed of hardwood or other relatively yielding material. The cushioning block 11 is arranged to directly support the rail 2, as shown more particularly in Fig. 3.

My improved combined` rail and spike holder comprises, as shown, a substantially tl-shaped strip of metal having rail and spike holding limbs 12 and 13, respectively. This holder is adapted to be embedded in the tie and is preferably formed and proportioned so that therail holding limb will be disposed substantially vertically while the spike holding limb is disposed at an angle tothe vertical. The rail holding limb extends upwardly through the sleeper and is provided with a bent over terminal end 14: adapted to overhang and engage one side rail flange indicated at 15. When the rail is inserted, it will be slightly tilted toward the left so as to insert zthe rail flange 15 beneath the lug or holder 14. The spread of the limbs 12 and 13 is such as to dispose the remaining end 16, of limb 13, adjacent the other side rail flange 17. A spike socket 18 is formed in the sleeper at such an angle y to the vertical that the head 19 of an inserted spike will overhang rail iiange 17 while the body 20 of the spike will extend Aaway from the rail 8. The limb 13 intersects and extends across the spike socket 18 near the upper end thereof and the limb 13 is provided with an opening 21 shaped to conform with the cross section of the spike and through which the latter is projected into the socket 1S. rIhe terminal end of limb 13, as indicated at 22, is bent downwardly and extends along the spike socket 18 so as to provide the latter with a metallic wall portion longitudinally thereof.

The result of this construction is to transmit to the holder, any strain imposed upon the spike thereby preventing the latter from working objectionably loose in the socket 18 and thereby enlarging the latter. `While the spike 20, coacting with the flange lug 15 will effectively hold the rail 3 in position, it will be readily seen that the spike 2O may be withdrawn in case it is desired to position a new rail and that such withdrawal can even be made without the employment of any implement whatsoever.

As an improved anchorage for the combined rail and spike holder, I provide an anchor rod 23 which is embedded in the sleeper and which extends through apertures 24 and 25 of the limbs 13 and 12, respectively, -to rigidly support the holder against any tendency to work loose. It will now be seen that by spreading the tie yoke 4, as'indicated at 9, the loop portions 9 will extend laterally of the rail fastening device so as to leave a considerable area therebe tween.

Vhile I have herein shown and described one specific form of my invention I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. In a rail fastening mechanism, a composite tie, a combined rail and spike holder embedded in said tie and comprising a metallic strip of substantially V-shaped formation having one limb provided with a terminal end projecting above the tie and bent to form a rail iange engaging lug for engagement with one side flange of the rail, said tie having a spike receiving socket formed therein at an angle to the vertical to dispose the spike head adjacent the other side flange of the rail and the spike end re mote from such flange, the remaining limb of said member intersecting and extending across said socket near the upper end of the latter and having a terminal end bent downwardly and forming one wall of said socket,

the intersecting portion of said limb being apertured, and a spike adapted to be loosely projected through said aperture and downwardly into said socket into longitudinal engagement with said wall forming portion, substantially as described.

2. In a rail 'fastening mechanism, a composite tie, a combined rail and spike holder embedded in said tie and comprising a metallic strip having one terminal end bent to form a rail flange engaging lug, said tie having a spike receiving socket formed therein at an angle to the vertical, another portion ot' said holder intersecting said socket and extending downwardly therealong to form a metallic wall portion for said socket, said intersecting portion having a spike opening therein, and a spike adapted to be loosely projected through said opening and downwardly into said socket into longitlulinal engagement with said wall'forming portion, substantially as described.

3. In a rail fastening mechanism, a composite tie, a combined rail and spike holder embedded in said tie and comprising a metallic strip having one terminal end bent to form a rail iiange engaging lug, said tie having a spike receiving socket formed therein at an angle to the vertical, another portion of said holder intersecting said socket and provided with an aperture registering with said socket, and a spike adapted to be loosely projected through said aperture and downwardly into said socket, substantially as described.

In a rail fastening mechanism, a composite tie provided with a spike socket, a combined rail and spike holder embedded in said tie and having a rail engaging portion and also an apertured portion registering with said socket, an anchoring rod extending hrough said holder and embedded in said tie, substantially as described. p

In testimonyv whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON E. SMITH.

lVitnesses H. E. SMITH, EDNA Enormes.

Copies of this'patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

